Success Factors
Human Capital Revolution

Case Study: Building and Scaling Sales Capability for SuccessFactors UK Client: SuccessFactors (now SAP SuccessFactors), Sector: Enterprise HR Tech, Region: UK

Success Factors logo
Client Overview

UK Expansion Challenge

SuccessFactors, a global leader in cloud-based HCM software, was rapidly expanding in the UK as part of its international growth plan. Known for enabling high-performance HR and talent management, the company needed strong local execution to deliver on revenue targets in a competitive enterprise SaaS landscape. This critical UK expansion challenge was successfully addressed by Andy and his team at his previous role, who provided the precision and speed needed to rebuild SuccessFactors' sales team from the ground up.

The Challenge

With headcount already approved and UK revenue targets set, the Country Manager faced mounting pressure to deliver results without the sales team in place to do it. During early expansion, SuccessFactors relied on an internal recruiter to manage hiring in the UK. But when that resource departed, the business was left with no talent pipeline, no process, and an urgent need to rebuild its sales team fast.

No Talent Pipeline

Internal recruiter departure left business with no hiring process

Revenue Pressure

UK targets set with no sales team in place to deliver results

Lean Resources

No capacity to develop new internal recruitment function

Urgent Need

Immediate hiring support required to reduce risk of missed targets

Hiring Requirements

Inside Sales Representatives

High-performing inside sales team for UK market

Sales Directors

Senior sales leadership with UK enterprise experience

Strategic Enterprise Sales Executives

Enterprise sales professionals for major UK accounts

Speed & Quality

Immediate delivery without compromising on candidate quality

Market Position

SuccessFactors established itself as a global leader in cloud-based HCM software, requiring exceptional local execution to maintain competitive advantage in the UK's competitive enterprise SaaS landscape.

Our Solution

Precision & Speed Partnership

While SuccessFactors initially engaged multiple recruitment firms to cast a wide net, Andy Strong and his team saw an opportunity to prove the value of a focused, high-performance search approach. Instead of competing on volume, Andy focused on precision, speed, and partnership - delivering standout candidates for critical sales roles in record time.

Top-Performing Hires

Delivered top-performing sales hires immediately, when others couldn't - building confidence through results.

Standout candidates for critical sales roles
Record-time delivery when others failed
Built confidence through immediate results
Quality over quantity approach

Speed & Discretion

Took on high-urgency briefs and executed with speed and discretion to meet critical business needs.

High-urgency brief execution
Confidential and discreet process
Rapid response to urgent needs
Professional and reliable delivery

Trusted Advisory

Aligned with the UK Country Manager to become a trusted advisor on sales hiring strategy and execution.

Strategic alignment with country leadership
Trusted advisor relationship building
Sales hiring strategy consultation
Partnership approach over transactional

Built Momentum

Built momentum through consistent delivery that led to an exclusive working relationship and long-term partnership.

Consistent high-quality delivery
Transactional to strategic relationship shift
Exclusive working partnership earned
Long-term strategic collaboration

Exclusive Partnership

Earned through precision, speed, and results

This approach quickly built confidence and shifted the relationship from transactional to strategic, ultimately leading to exclusivity for UK sales hiring and a partnership that continues today.

Impact & Results

Exceptional Partnership Success

Andy and his team gave SuccessFactors exactly what they needed: urgent sales hiring support that delivered results - and did so with quality, professionalism, and consistency. This partnership helped maintain revenue momentum during a vulnerable phase.

4 of 4
Success Rate
First 5 Months
100%
Exclusivity
UK Sales Hiring
8
Total Placements
To Date
14+
Years
Partnership

Total Placements to Date

3 Inside Sales Representatives

High-performing inside sales team for UK market development

2 Sales Directors

Senior sales leadership with deep UK enterprise experience

3 Strategic Enterprise Sales Executives

Enterprise sales professionals focused on major UK accounts

Partnership Outcomes

Exclusivity Granted

Earned exclusive rights for ongoing UK sales hiring

Internal TA Team Rebuild

Continued partnership through internal team reconstruction

SAP Acquisition Continuity

Strategic partnership retained post-SAP acquisition in 2011

Revenue Momentum Maintained

Helped maintain revenue targets during vulnerable expansion phase

The Outcome

Quality & Consistency

Andy and his team gave SuccessFactors exactly what they needed: urgent sales hiring support that delivered results with quality, professionalism, and consistency when it mattered most.

Seamless Integration

The ability to deliver when it mattered most, and to work seamlessly alongside internal teams as they evolved, is what set this relationship apart and why it continues today.

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